Baby Bucket

ABSTRACT

The Baby Bucket is one single plastic extrusion poured product. The upright shape and the specially contoured smooth internal surface of the Baby Bucket simulate the shape and inside of a mother&#39;s womb and enable a baby to take a fetal position; therefore, the Baby Bucket gives a baby a natural and stress free bathing experience. Furthermore, the upright position reduces the chance of a baby swallowing water and/or drowning in water like in a conventional flat bath tub.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61253131 filed on Oct. 20, 2009, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

This invention relates to the field of bathtubs for babies, and more particularly to the field of upright baby bathtubs.

Babies often do not enjoy bathing. It may be because many baby bathtubs require babies to completely recline in an uncomfortable position which is very different from a fetal position in a mother's womb. Besides, the baby is only slightly submerged in water so the baby is exposed to uncomfortable drafts. Therefore, there is a need for new invention of baby bathtubs that can provide a baby a pleasant bathing experience.

WO1995002983A1 to Strassburger discloses a baby bathtub that allows a baby to bathe in an essentially upright position. The baby can be substantially submerged in water, and is not confined by the bathtub. The bathtub may be configured for use in a sink and includes a fluid-tight container and a support means positioned within the container that may be configured to anatomically conform to the baby's body. However, this invention lacks a no slip guard that allows the baby bathtub to be placed on almost any surface without slipping. Our present invention includes an O ring as the non slipping agent that allows the baby bathtub to be placed on almost any surface without slipping.

WO2000006009A1 to Hogestijn discloses a children's bath with substantially elongated shape and two ends that is designed for children in the age of approximately 6 to 30 months to bath sitting substantially upright. Preferably the children's bath is designed such that a child of approximately 6 to 13 months can sit at one end and a child of approximately 13 to 30 months can sit at the other end with both ends adapted. This prior art is not suitable for the infants who are younger. Our present invention is suitable for babies within a wide range of age.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,158,065 to Tuoriniemi discloses a portable top-opening receptacle for holding water at least to the waist level for a child bathing in standing position. One of the objects of this prior art is to let the baby practice standing while bathing. Thus this prior art is not suitable for the infants who are younger and are not ready to practice standing yet. Our present invention is suitable for babies within a wide range of age.

Furthermore, our present invention is distinguished from the aforementioned prior art in that our invention has the special shape and internal contour which simulates a mother's womb; thus, it makes bathing a pleasant experience for babies. Also, our present invention is made by one single pour plastic extrusion process; thus it is a smooth one single unit.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Generally, the present invention relates to a baby bathtub and in particular to an upright baby bathtub. The Baby Bucket according to the present invention has a unique shape which is engineered after a mother's womb. The preferred embodiment of the Baby Bucket has an upright conical shape on the outside, and a substantially circular cross section throughout its length. The Baby Bucket is made by one single pour plastic extrusion process; thus it is a smooth one single unit. The handles of the bucket are made of foam. The dimensions of the bucket allow a baby taking an upright posture which simulates the fetal position. Moreover, on the bottom inside the container there are two indentations that are contoured to fit a baby's buttock for comfort and support so that baby can sit inside the concave portion with his or her legs naturally crossed and placed on the non-concaved plane. This indentation is padded for additional protection and support. With this posture, a baby's back and head are supported by the wall of the bucket. The upright shape and the specially contoured smooth internal surface of the Baby Bucket enable a baby to take a fetal position; therefore, the Baby Bucket gives a baby a natural and stress free bathing experience. Furthermore, the upright position reduces the chance of a baby swallowing water and/or drowning in water like in a conventional flat bath tub.

In a preferred embodiment, the Baby Bucket is approximately 16 inches in diameter and 13 inches in height on the outside. The attached bottom base is approximately 7 inches in width and ¾ inch in height. An O Ring is fitted into a preformed ridge on the bottom of the base as a no slip guard allowing the Baby Bucket to be placed on almost any surface without slipping. The O ring is approximately 21 inches long by ⅜ inch wide. The bucket has an interior diameter of approximately 11.75 inches around the top region and 6.5 inches around the bottom region, and an interior height of approximately 12.25 inches. A frosted line located about 4.75 inches away from the bottom indicates where the water should be filled to.

The unique shape of the Baby Bucket according to the present invention must be kept as it is engineered after a mother's womb and it is the uniqueness of the present invention. The bucket dimensions can be proportionally increased for larger babies or decreased for smaller babies. The size of the bottom base could be changed proportionally. The O Ring could be changed in size and in shape for suitable grips. Two or more handles are conveniently placed on top of the bucket in equal distance for easy grip and movement. These handles can be made of foam.

The more important features of the invention have thus been outlined in order that the more detailed description that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may better be appreciated. Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter and will form the subject matter of the claims that follow.

Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

The foregoing has outlined, rather broadly, the preferred feature of the present invention so that those skilled in the art may better understand the detailed description of the invention that follows. Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter that form the subject of the claims of the invention. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they can readily use the disclosed conception and specific embodiment as a basis for designing or modifying other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention and that such other structures do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention in its broadest form.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following detailed description, the appended claim, and the accompanying drawings in which similar elements are given similar reference numerals.

FIG. 1 is a prospective side view of an embodiment of the Baby Bucket according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a transparent cross sectional view of an embodiment of the Baby Bucket according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective side view of an embodiment of a Baby Bucket according to the present invention. The Baby Bucket generally designated 1 comprises a container 2; an attached bottom base 3, an O ring 4, and a plurality of handles 5. The Baby Bucket 1 is made with a tooled dye mold and is extruded plastic. It is made on a manufacturing line for mass production as one single poured bucket. The only attached part is the no slip O Ring 4 that is made out of rubber and later fitted into a preformed ridge on the bottom base 2 of the Baby Bucket 1 during its initial extrusion process.

The container 2 has an upright conical shape, a substantially circular cross section throughout its length. In a preferred embodiment, the container 2 is approximately 16 inches in diameter and 13 inches in height on the outside. The attached bottom base 3 is approximately 7 inches wide and ¾ inch in height. It may be in circular or square configuration. The shape and size of bottom base 3 could be changed. An O ring 4 that is made of rubber is fitted into a preformed ridge on the bottom base 3 as a no slip guard allowing the Baby Bucket 1 to be placed on almost any surface without slipping. The O ring 4 is approximately 21 inches long by ⅜ inch wide. The container 2 has an interior diameter of approximately 11.75 inches around the top region and 6.5 inches around the bottom region, and an interior height of approximately 12.25 inches.

The handles 5 are evenly and conveniently placed on top of the container 2 to provide easy grip and movement of the Baby Bucket 1 whether full of water or empty. In one embodiment, there are four handles 5 located on top of the container 2 with the dimensions of 5 inches long, ¾ inch wide, and ¾ inch deep. In other embodiments, the handles 5 could be increased or decreased in size or numbers.

There is the wording “Always Hold Baby” etched on the wall of plastic bottom base 3. The Baby Bucket 1 is made by a one pour plastic extrusion process. There is the wording etched on the wall of the container 2 that says “The Baby Bucket Bathing Made Simple”, and is etched in when the Baby Bucket 1 is extruded. There is a frosted line etched on the container 2 about 4.75 inches away from the bottom indicating where the water should be filled to. The frosted line on the container 2 clarifies and makes it easy to know what the suggested water level is for baby's safety.

The Baby Bucket 1 is one single poured extrusion plastic product. It works all as a smooth one single unit for a baby bathing experience. The unique shape must be kept as it is engineered after a mother's womb and the uniqueness of the Baby Bucket 1. The container 2 can be proportionally increased in size for larger babies or decreased in size for smaller babies. The container 2 could modestly be changed in dimension size ratio and still have a safe outcome. The bottom base 3 could be changed in size and shape. The non-slip O ring 4 could be changed in size and shape for more grips.

FIG. 2 illustrates a transparent cross sectional view of the Baby Bucket 1 near the bottom. On the bottom inside the container 2 there are two indentations 6 that are contoured to fit a baby's buttock for comfort and support so that baby can sit inside the concaved portion 6 with his or her legs naturally crossed and placed on the non-concaved plane 7. With this posture, a baby's back and head are supported by the wall of the container 2.

Water is added to the frosted line and a baby is placed into the Baby Bucket 1 in the fetal position and the bath can begin. The Baby Bucket 1 may fit in the sink. The Baby Bucket 1 may further include a small holder hanging on the wall of container 2 to hold soap, shampoo or towel. The Baby Bucket 1 could be used to hold any fluid or solid that is non corrosive.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to the preferred embodiments, it will be understood that the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention and not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiments discussed were chosen and described to provide the best illustration of the principles of the invention and its practical application to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are entitled. 

1. A baby bucket made with a tooled dye mold and is a one single extruded pour plastic product, comprising: (a) a container having a upright, conical shape on the outside; (b) a bottom base to support said container; and (c) a plurality of handles located on top of the rim of said container for easy grasp and movement.
 2. The baby bucket of claim 1 further comprising an O Ring for fitting into the bottom base.
 3. The baby bucket of claim 2, wherein said container's bottom interior has two indentations that are contoured to fit a baby's buttock for comfort and support so that a baby can sit inside the concaved portion with his or her legs naturally crossed and placed on a non-concaved plane.
 4. The baby bucket of claim 3, wherein the container has an outside diameter of approximately 16 inches and 13 inches in height; the attached bottom base is approximately 7 inches in diameter and ¾ inch height; the O ring is approximately 21 inches long by ⅜ inch wide; and the container has an interior diameter of approximately 11.75 inches around the top region and 6.5 inches around the bottom region, and an interior height of approximately 12.25 inches.
 5. The baby bucket of claim 4, wherein the handle is 5 inches long, ¾ inch wide, and ¾ inch deep.
 6. The baby bucket of claim 4, wherein the container's dimensions may be changed proportionally.
 7. The baby bucket of claim 4, wherein the container's dimensions ratio may be modestly changed.
 8. The baby bucket of claim 4, wherein the bottom base may be changed in shape and size.
 9. The baby bucket of claim 4, wherein the handle may be changed in size.
 10. The baby bucket of claim 4, wherein the O Ring is preferably made of rubber.
 11. The baby bucket of claim 4, wherein the O Ring could be changed in size and shape.
 12. The baby bucket of claim 4, wherein a frosted line located about 4.75 inches away from the bottom indicates where the water line should be filled to.
 13. The baby bucket of claim 4, wherein the baby bucket may further include a small holder for holding soaps, shampoos, and towels.
 14. The baby bucket of claim 4 could be used to hold any fluid or solid that is non corrosive.
 15. The baby bucket of claim 4 can fit in a sink. 